Tonsillectomy pain help please!

[emmalouise1234]

Hoping someone please has some advice or been in a similar situation.
My 4 year old had his tonsils out last Tuesday. By Wednesday night he had a temp of 40 so took him back to hospital and he was given antibiotics for an infection.
He's had antibiotics, maximum doses of Calpol and nurofen since the op, and is still barely able to eat and drink, and waking 4-5 a night screaming and crying in pain.

He used to get tonsillitis every 4-6 weeks which is why he had them out. He's never been in this much pain for so long (antibiotics usually work in 24 hours) and I just don't know if anyone has been through the same, whether I should be worried or it's normal.

We have a freezer full of ice lollies, jelly's, yoghurt, fruit. He just cries whenever he swallows anything. At times he cries even trying to lick an ice lolly because of the pain in his throat when he pokes his tongue out.

It's heartbreaking to see him in so much pain, any advice greatly received x

Poor thing and poor you 😢
I had mine out aged 7 and still remember the pain ☹️
its early days yet in terms of his recovery so I think you’re doing all you can, just keep him on round the clock nurofen and calpol.
i think there is a numbing spray for their throat that my dd has had with very bad tonsillitis but maybe can’t be used after op? Might be worth a call to gp to see if they’ll prescribe it (something like difflam but for kids)
sending hugs, will be worth it once difficult recovery is over. I went from being poorly with it every 4 weeks to being well-
I think it was life changing for my mum
xx

He probably needs a double whammy of antibiotics if he's had them a lot previously as they become less effective. Check with your doctor about stronger pain relief. I always found the really thick fresh milkshakes (supermarket own brand in the milk bottles) soothing to swallow as they coated my throat. It was the only thing I could bear to swallow during times I couldn't even swallow saliva.

Thank you for your replies, I will try the milkshake tomorrow and call the Gp to maybe get their advice.
It's been a rough week but hopefully short term pain for long term gain 🤞🏼

Mine found that days 5-10 were by far the worst and this seems in keeping with other recoveries so I think it seems within the realms of normal (although still shit for you both)

I had mine out as an adult and recovery was awful. I also got an infection. I found cold things the hardest to eat (unlike when I had tonsillitis) and found it easier to eat mashed potato and spaghetti hoops.
I also had to sleep sitting up as the feeling of my uvula against my swollen throat was excruciating if I laid down.

@coconutcurls Also had mine out as an adult and agree with the spaghetti hoops. Soft foods were what I found the best. Scrambled egg was good too.

I had mine out age 40. It’s fucking horrendous.

the best thing to do is try to eat relatively normal foods. This helps reduce the build up of scar tissues. So I lived off really buttery toast soaked in baked beans/tinned ravioli/soft boiled eggs etc

the next thing is pain relief. So paracetamol four times a day ibuprofen three times a day all the fucking time … so for example ibuprofen at 8am paracetamol 12noon ibuprofen at 2pm paracetamol 6pm ibuprofen at 8pm Paracetamol at 12midnight paracetamol again at 6am. I know that means waking the poor kid up but trust me doing pain relief In anticipation of the pain is soooo much better than responding to pain.

if this is NOT enough then you need to contact GP. Can he have an anaesthetic throat spray to help too?

third thing — ice packs wrapped in tea towels were a god send in the early hours of the morning

Xx

I had mine out as an adult, it was horribly painful for 10+ days. I also could not sleep lying down. It was way worse than I had anticipated.

Longer term definitely worth it to be rid of the tonsillitis.

Ps. I had to have codeine as well… hence why I suggest ringing the gp if ibuprofen/paracetamol isn’t cutting it for your child to see if there is anything else they can be given

Thank you again, it's a relief to hear it's horrific if that makes sense!
He's had Calpol and nurofen round the clock, I've been setting alarms through the night although not needed them as he's usually been awake anyway. We've also been using the throat spray.

He's had the odd bite of toast or few skips. Occasional mouthful of spaghetti or plain pasta. Chocolate buttons seem to be ok too!

I may try propping him up to sleep next time he wakes thank you for the tip!

Ill certainly keep up with it all, and keep trying the normal soft foods.

Thank you all 💖

My 6 year old was prescribed tramadol when she had hers out 4 years ago. We didn't ask for it but the hospital gave it to us when we were discharged.
I think the pain often gets worse before it improves so hopefully you're almost past the worst and things will get better.

When you speak to the GP/hospital ask for some oromorph. We would always give 3 days worth, small doses for days 5-10 as these were the worst. You can use difflam spray as well, over the counter. Spread out the paracetamol and ibuprofen doses. Try an ice pack on his face as that helped me and if he doesn't feel like eating just try and get him to keep drinking. The worst should be over soon and you'll be so grateful he had them done.

Ice packs (wrapped in tea towels)! Promise they helped. Xx

Hey @emmalouise1234 hope you don’t mind but I just wanted to ask how the recovery is going?

My LO had hers out on Monday morning so we are several days in and struggling - she seems to have been relatively ok during the first few days but dipped yesterday. Not sure if it’s normal and I was just lulled in to a false sense of security?!

im very tired and emotional which isn’t helping but her pain is worse and she is so sad and quiet….does it get worse before it gets better?!

Hoping you are out the other side and have a positive outcome to share with me!! Xxx

Hello @Hartleyhare1206 how is your LO?

it actually starts out horrid gets worse and then gets better. It’s like climbing a hill.

keep eating softish foods with a bit of gentle texture to keep gently sloughing the scabs away as that’s what a lot of the pain is. Working the jaw and throat helps it too heal better. Ice packs wrapped in towels around the neck worked for me and I religiously dosed up on painkillers regularly to keep on top of the pain rather than Chase it would be my top top tips.

In the same boat as you were- day 4 after operation for my DS, when did it get better for your daughter? Losing the will a bit and it's awful seeing him in such pain

@Februaryschild2023 bless you - it’s horrible isn’t it? Days 3-7 were absolutely the worst for us - alternated calpol and neurofen every 3-4 hrs day and night and basically had to distract our way though it and tried every trick in the book to keep her eating normal food.

She had a small bleed on the evening of day 7 when a bit of scab came off too. But then she woke up on day 8 and declared she didn’t need medicine anymore! Only had it at bedtime and she gradually got better each day from that point and it was all much easier. I’d say by day 12 she was fairly back to herself. Still had the scabs in the throat and was very tired for a while afterwards, but that didn’t bother her at all.

it’s a horrible recovery - she and I cried a lot!!!! You’re totally in the thick of the worst bit right now though and it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s there though I promise! Keep going xxxx

Oh thanks, that is hopeful! It's horrible seeing them in so much pain isn't it? Plus we have a 3 month old, so we're absolutely knackered by all the night wakings. So tentatively hoping for better times by the weekend!
How's your little girl now, was the op the right thing to do?

Wow - doing that with a 3 month old in tow? My hero!!! You must be absolutely exhausted😳😳😳
How old is your DS? Did he “just” have tonsils out or adenoids/grommets etc too?
I was dreading the op and the recovery and found it such an emotional process - as you say, seeing them in pain is horrible. My DD found it utterly miserable but was so brave and sensible about it all and handled it with far more humour and good grace than I did to be honest! We really did just embrace the madness and throw everything at distracting her and totally lowered her standards - let her eat whatever she wanted, wherever she wanted - cereal in bed at 9pm was one highlight😂😂 watching her tablet every time she ate to distract her worked well too.
is your DS eating ok? It’s so important for their recovery.
we were getting virtually normal sleep by day 9/10 and I look back now and it all feels like a blur/dream to be honest. It was one of the worst things I’ve dealt with as a mum and I think I cried every day seeing her sad and in pain but it had to be done. It’s probably too soon for me to comment on whether it was worth it as she only had the op a few weeks ago. She had tonsils and adenoids out and grommets in. Repeated ear and tonsil infections since 18 months old and a 5 year battle to get it all dealt with. As horrible as the recovery was I’m so relieved it has finally been done.

I had my tonsils out when I was 10, I still remember that pain it was excruciating and that was without an infection. Hope he feels better soon

Yep, had the tonsil/adenoids/grommets here too. No wonder he's so miserable!

Really hoping it makes a big difference to his hearing and sleeping, because its bigger surgery than I had naively imagined. Glad your DD recovered well and hope it stops all her infections, it's rotton isn't it.

Defo the hardest thing I've dealt with as a mum too, the constant pain and knowing theres nothing you can do about it is awful. Had another rough day today so really hoping we'll turn a corner this weekend. At the end of my rope!

@Februaryschild2023 yes it’s big surgery, and the recovery period is rubbish. Literally no other way to describe it at all. But if your DS is anything like my DD he will take it in his stride and just see it as a temporary blip. Kids are great at living in the moment.

Mine appears to have even forgotten the whole experience, let alone remember the shitty parts. She actually appears to look back fondly at it - time off school, being able to eat unlimited crap, lots of tablet watching and a new toy for being brave. It’s only me that is traumatised 😂😂

what is it that’s been particularly tough so far? Are you managing to get some rest and a break yourself? With a poorly child and a tiny baby you must be pooped, and need to look after yourself.

Is this day 5 now? If so I really do think this is the worst spell your in - scabs forming In the throat etc - not nice for him (or you!!)

you can do it - hang on in there xxx

How are you and DS doing, @Februaryschild2023? A bit better I hope? Xx

Thanks for checking in- poor little guy had two haemorrhages over the weekend, due to an infection in the tonsil bed- which explains why he's been in so much pain. Very scary to say the least, and not a fun weekend at hospital, but he seems to have turned a corner now, and is able to eat and drink a bit finally.
Feeling like I rue the day we agreed to this tonsillectomy but I know it will be worth it in the long run!

Oh goodness - poor sausage! I’m so sorry to hear that, but relieved to hear he seems to be back on track. We had a bleed here on day 7 and it’s scary isn’t it? Once that was under control she instantly perked up and the improvement was rapid. I remember going to a family gathering on day 13 and she inhaled a full roast dinner, 3 portions of pudding, and then started on cheese and biscuits. An hour later she was demanding a snack!! Everyone was staggered and couldn’t believe that less than a week before she was bleeding and back in hospital. Think they all thought my dramatic and exhausted wailing describing how awful and traumatic the whole thing had been were just made up and I was attention seeking 😂😂
seriously though @Februaryschild2023 how are you? You must be utterly exhausted? Sending you all the virtual wine and chocolate in the universe! Xxx